Thursday, 22 September 2016

High Valley Manhunt is the first book featuring B.S.Dunn's hero Laramie Davis.

Gunfighter Laramie Davis rides into the town of Rock Springs looking for a drink, a meal and a place to sleep. The hospitality he receives at the saloon soon puts him at ease with a free beer and a juicy steak in front of him. His moment of tranquility is interrupted by the local Deputy Sheriff who wants to buy Laramie's horse. This is someone who doesn't take 'no' as an answer for he is a member of the Coltrain family - and what a Coltrain wants so a Coltrain gets. As the deputy discovers when Laramie says his horse isn't for sale then stealing it isn't an option - and the confrontation ends with a shoot out that has Laramie on the run.

Chased by Jeb and Zeb Coltrain, the sheriff and judge and the deputy's brother Laramie finds himself involved with outlaws, Blackfoot indians and a mountain man. Alliances are formed and broken in a bloody manhunt that leads to a final showdown.

This is the first book that I have read by B.S.Dunn and was quite impressed by the strong characterisation and the way that the story played like a word/movie.

There are three more Laramie Davis available in this series - all available on Kindle or paperback

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

It was a recollection of a film poster that I had seen in a cinema foyer. I think it may have been in the Odeon, North Finchley. That poster had a pink background and a swim suited Mamie Van Doren in black and white.

Back then this film carried an X Certificate (adults only) so I never got to see it - until yesterday. Curiosity led me to a copy on You Tube and I quite enjoyed the 70 minute movie.

The movie was written by Charles Ellis and directed Edward L. Cahn for Imperial.

The story evolves around Sergeant Whitey Brandon's (Richard Coogan) attempt to bring down the vice empire of Vince Malone (Brad Dexter). Malone, however. has a plan to get rid of his adversary by employing an out of town model Carol Hudson (Mamie Van Doren) to frame the detective. The plan works and Brandon gets kicked off the force.

Brandon isn't done as he sets up business in opposition to Malone - in the process tries to enlist the aid of Carol Hudson but she's not interested as her younger sister Louise (Carol Nugent) has arrived for a visit.

Events take an ugly turn when Malone's lieutenant rapes and beats up Louise - which leads to the alliance of Carol with the cops.

Though the cast were largely unknown - except for Brad Dexter who was about to become part of the cast of an iconic western 'The Magnificent Seven' - this was quite an enjoyable, though predictable, movie.

Mamie Van Doren, I discovered, made up one third of what was known as Hollywood's 'Three Ms' - Marilyn Monroe. Jayne Mansfield and Mamie. Yet they never appeared in a movie together though Mamie Van Doren and Jayne Mansfield did.

About Me

I was born in North London but moved to Orpington, Kent. I write westerns under the name of Jack Giles that are published by Robert Hale's Black Horse Western brand.
Having brought up six children and seen them married off -as a result we now have 15 grandchildren - we now live in Kent.